In our family, a lot of time is spent in the kitchen and at the dinner table. At these locations, we talk about many things. The topics are endless. From the food & drink we are enjoying, to stories of the past, we leave the kitchen & table full in the stomach and the mind. So we figured we would share our topics of discussion with you right here! So enjoy this treasure trove of information and imagine that you are "at the table... with Doris Italian Market.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

St. Anthony Day is tomorrow June 13th...

Tomorrow is St. Anthony Day. In preparing for this day, we have provided 2 simple recipes; an Italian Bread recipe and a Sangria recipe.The Origin of "St. Anthony's Bread"One legend dates back to the year 1263, when a child drowned near the Paduan Basilica of St. Anthony during its construction. The child’s mother prayed to the saint to bring her boy back to life. In return, she promised to give to the poor an amount of corn equal to the child’s weight. When the child was miraculously revived, the mother made good on her promise. Centuries later, in 1888, a woman named Louise Bouffier managed a small bakery store in the seaside village of Toulon, France. One morning, she couldn’t open the shop’s door with her key. Neither could a locksmith, who advised her that he’d have to break the door open. While he went to get his tools, Louise prayed to St. Anthony that she would give some of her bakery’s bread to the poor if the door could be opened without force. When the locksmith returned, he tried the lock again and was easily able to let Louise in. True to her word, the baker made sure that the poor of Toulon received their due. It wasn’t long before Louise’s friends began to follow her example of promising a gift of bread or alms to the poor in return for prayers answered by St. Anthony. In the 1890s, they formalized this practice by founding a charity called “St. Anthony’s Bread.” In the spirit of this charity, some parishes bless and distribute small loaves of bread on June 13, his feast day. Below is a recipe for an Italian bread that may be shaped into individual loaves for you to pass out at church, among friends and family or to the disadvantaged in your community.Italian Mini-LoavesYield: 16

**************************In Lisbon, his birthplace, it is a traditional day for getting married (women who get married on this day are called "brides of St. Anthony"). So popular are weddings on this day in Lisbon, that the city hall hosts them for free if the couple are poor. St. Anthony altars are built and decorated, parades are held, bonfires lit, grilled sardines and sangria are enjoyed.

Sangria

1 (750-ml) bottle red wine (Rioja, if possible)

1/4 cup brandy

1/4 cup orange flavored liqueur (triple sec or Grand Marnier)

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 orange, thinly sliced

1/2 lemon, thinly sliced

1 unwaxed apple, cored, and cut into thin wedges

1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling water, chilled

Combine everything but the sparkling water in a large plastic container or glass pitchers. Cover and chill completely, 1 to 2 hours. When ready to serve, add the sparkling water, pour over ice cubes, and source: st-anthony-medal.com, salemcatholic.org & faithmag.com